Liquid cooler



LIQUID COOLER Filed Ap'gil 16, 1954 t -Z a K g INEENTOREW 15 BY W f/paug 4 d s f ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1935 PATENT OFFICE LIQUID COOLER James Robertson and George H. Pnrdy,

. San Francisco, Calif.

Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 120,823 4 Claims. (Cl. 257-183) This invention relates to improvements in liquid coolers.

An object of our invention is to provide an improved liquid cooler of exceptionally durable con- 5 struction having a plurality of tubes of novel design and construction arranged in vertical interlocking alignment with their ends positioned inside opposed channel type headers.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved liquid cooler comprising a pair of vertical headers having a plurality of refrigerant carrying tubes mounted in vertical alignment between and within them, the said tubes having novel interlocking constructions at their ends which provide enlarged by-passes or return channels for the free passage of fluid from one tube to another.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved liquid cooler comprising a plurality of vertically aligned tubes having interlocking constructions at their ends which provide enlarged return channels for the passage of a refrigerant fluid from one tube to another.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will be specifically pointed out in the description of our invention. which is to follow.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a cooler constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of a portion of the cooler showing the manner in which the tubes are mounted in a header and secured together.

Referring to the drawing the numerals I and 2 represent a pair of upright channel type headers having a plurality of tubes 3 secured thereto and to one another as by solder and interlocking m ans, and arranged in series and in vertical alignment. Mounted on the headers l and 2 above the topmost of the tubes .3.is atr ll h 4 into which quantities of milk or other liquid to' be cooled is poured, and below the lowermost tube 3 is mounted a drip pan 5 adapted to receive the liquid passing downwardly over the tubes. The trough at its bottom side is provided with a plurality of holes through which the liquid may pass, and the drip pan is provided with an outlet 6 through which the liquid may be discharged into a suitable receptacle. The header 2 is provided atits lower end with a fluid inlet 1 through which a suitable refrigerant fluid may enter the cooler, and at its upper end with an outlet 8 Except for the topmost of the tubes 3 which is preferably circular in cross section, the walls of each'of the other tubes, at their upper sides, extend outwardly and upwardly as at 9 and It to provide a hollow lip which furnishes an additionalspace within the tube for the passage of a refrigerant fluid. The parts 9 and III are formed integrally with a) slightly curved part II which 10 entirely encloses the inside of the tube. The curved part II of each of those tubes which has the same thereon is secured as by solder to the lower side of the particular tube located above it.

The solder attaching the part H to the curved lower side of another tube is evenly distributed along the length of the tubes so as to completely close any cracks, thereby preventing the possible accumulation of bacteria. The arrangement of the tubes with the part II of one tube secured to the underneath side of an adjacent tube provides an improved closed type cooler which may be easily cleaned with a brush or other suitable implement.

In order to permit the cooling fluid entering the cooler from the inlet 1 to flow upwardly through the tubes 3 to the outlet 8, we have formed suitable channels at the ends of the tubes so that the fluid may freely pass from one tube into another. The end of the lower tube 3 opposite the inlet 1, is joined to the next higher tube by bending and interlocking the walls of the two tubes by means of a suitable tool or die which is forced inwardly against the metals after the part II of the lower tube and the wall of the next higher tube are slit through. The die or tool is so shaped that the walls at the ends of the two tubes are bent outwardly as at I2, thereby providing a channel through which the liquid may freely pass from the lower tube into the next higher tube. When the ,ends of the tubes are bent outwardly by the inward pressure applied by the tool or die, the parts 9, l0 and II of the lower tube and the adjacent wall of the next higher tube are flattened out and pressed in overlappingfpos it ipns against each other. In order that the refrigerant fluid may proceed upwardly through the cooler to the outlet 8, the tubes are arranged in series with channels of the type described provided at alternate ends thereof. Thus in the same manner that the lower tube and the next higher tube are joined together and provided with a channel at adjacent ends thereof, so is the opposite end of the said next higher tube and the adjacent end of the succeeding higher tube formed with outwardly bent and overlapping sides as at l2 to provide a channel for the passage of the fluid into the said succeeding higher tube. Thus the adjacent ends of the other tubes are alternately formed in the same manner with channels through which the refrigerant fluid may successively pass from one tube to another until it finally discharges through the outlet 8. v

The extreme ends of the said tubes are preferably cut evenly along vertical planes so they closely fit against the vertical end walls of the headers. The space between the headers and the tubes, as well as the joints where the walls of the tubes are bent outwardly to provide the channels, are filled with solder, asat 13. The overlapping side walls of the tubes. where the channels are formed, and the position of the tubes against the end walls of the headers with filled in solder closing all points where leakage of the refrigerant fluid could occur, provides a construction which is exceptionally durable and. rigid. Y

The liquid placed in the trough 4 passes through the holes provided in the bottom of the latter, and drops onto the uppermost of the tubes 3, after which it flows downwardly over the tubes and their parts 9 and Ill into the drip pan 5. A cooler constructed with the tubes having the outwardly disposed parallel parts 9 and I0 thereon, provides a greater amount of efficient cooling surface over which the liquid to be cooled passes. Not only does such a construction present a more efficient cooler, but theinterlocking walls at the ends of the tubes with their shapes being rectangular or semi-rectangular and in close engagement with one another and the walls of the headers, is.capable of withstanding a far greater amount of pressure from the refrigerant fluid passing through it than similar types of devices now in use.

It is to be understood that our invention is susceptible of numerouschanges with respect to form, shape and minor details of construction.

It therefore is to be understood that the appended claims shall determine the limits our invention may assume rather than the exact disclosures herein made.

Having described our invention what we claim is:

1. In a cooler, a pair of spaced headers, and a plurality of tubes connected in series and mounted in substantial alignment between the headers, the adjacent walls of the joined tubes being slit and bent outwardly and overlapping adjacent their ends, whereby channels are formed for the passage of a fluid from one tube to another.

2. In. a cooler, a pair of spaced headers, and a plurality of tubes substantially circular in cross section, connected in series and mounted between the headers, the adjacent walls at the ends of the tubes being slit and bent outwardly at their ends, with the outwardly bent parts of one tube overlapping and positioned against the outwardly bent parts of another tube.

3. In a cooler, a pair of spaced vertical headers, and a plurality of tubes having hollow lips thereon, the tubes being connected in series and mounted between the headers with the lip of one tube being positioned in close proximity to the wall of an adjacent tube, each pair of those tubes which are connected having their walls at points adjacent their ends bent outwardly to provide a channel connecting the interior of one tube with the interior of another tube.

4. In a cooler, a plurality of tubes connected in series, those tubes which are connected having their walls at adjacent-ends slit through and bent outwardly, with a part of the wall of one tube overlapping a part of the side wall of the other tube, the area withinthe adjacent ends of the tubes, at points where the walls are bent outwardly and are overlapping, constituting a channel through which fluid may pass from one tube to the other tube.

JAMES ROBERTSON. GEORGE H. PURDY. 

